Studies have shown that people who own pets have lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and less stress, depression, and loneliness than those who don’t own pets. A study conducted at Kean University in New Jersey found that people feel better after just watching a Lassie movie because of a drop in their cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress. Research has proven that owning a pet can also benefit children by teaching them about love and responsibility. Here are some more reasons that owning a pet benefits children:
Owning a pet boosts self-esteem. Research shows that kids who have family pets have higher self-esteem. Kids gain confidence when they have another creature to love who loves them back. Studies also show that pets boost academic skills because reading aloud to a loyal companion, like a dog, can turn a reluctant reader into a confident one. Many believe that interacting with animals represents a nonevaluative form of social support. A study from the University of Kansas followed children ages seven to 14 and found that if they lived with a pet their self-esteem and competence increased. For those who had serious chronic or even life-threatening illnesses, pets were even more important. In fact, the American Humane Association has a program called TASK — Therapy Animals Supporting Kids. The TASK Program encourages child welfare professionals to incorporate therapy animals into sessions with children who have been abused or neglected or have witnessed violence. According to the American Humane Association, “When children have suffered trauma, it is often difficult for them to speak of their experiences. Incorporating a therapy animal into the process can help a child open up and promote the healing process.” For more information on TASK, visit americanhumane.org
Owning a pet teaches values. Even toddlers can learn about caring for a pet by watching the way you are kind and gentle to your pet. Children as young as two years old can lend a hand with smaller tasks such as pouring pet food or water into a dish or giving treats. Most 12-month-olds will want to interact with pets and should be learning how to pet nicely (with an open hand) at this age. My 18-month-old son Chase knows how to play with our cats with the fishing pole toy. It’s great to see the look on Chase’s face when he gets one of the cats to grab the toy! If your child is a little older, he or she might be able to brush the dog or cat and maybe even scoop the litter box. Guinea pigs and fish are also great pets, and even a young child can pitch in and help feed these smaller pets. At any age, your child will realize that pets need the same things we need — food, water, shelter, love, which will teach him lessons about empathy and compassion.